The week in 5 charts: U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran kill Supreme Leader Khamenei, Kejriwal, Sissodia, and 20 others discharged in Excise Policy Case, and more

(1) U.S. and Israeli launched an all-out war on Iran, Supreme Leader Khameini killed

Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday (February 28 2026) leading to a broader military conflict involving the U.S. and left the world concerned about a bigger West Asia conflict. Several of Iran’s top political, spiritual, military leaders and scientists have been targeted and killed by Israel, both in the June 2025 conflict and 2026 attacks, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran launched a first wave ‌of ⁠retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. bases and interests in the region which were within Iran’s reach. At least half a dozen witnesses, including Reuters correspondents, heard loud booms in various parts of the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, a major oil producer and close U.S. ally. Here are the locations which were targeted in Iran, and those hit across the region by Iran.

Citing Washington’s decades-long dispute ‌with Iran, including the seizure of the 1979 U.S. embassy in Tehran, Mr. Trump urged Iranians to stay sheltered because “bombs will be dropping everywhere”. Israeli Prime Minister ‌Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran “will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.”

(2) Kejriwal, Sissodia, and 21 others discharged in Delhi Excise Policy Case

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP national convener, and party leader Manish Sisodia were discharged by a Delhi court on Friday (February 27, 2026) in an excise policy-related corruption case. Refusing to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet citing “internal contradictions”, Special Judge Jitendra Singh rapped the federal agency for lapses in the investigation.

Besides the two leaders, 21 others were given a clean chit in the case, including Telangana Jagruthi founder and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K. Kavitha. The new liquor policy was implemented by the AAP-led government in November 2020 and was withdrawn in July 2022 following pushbacks. Here is a timeline of the events that have unfolded since the implementation of the new liquor policy in November 2020:

(3) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam joins DMK

Just a few months ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections, O. Panneerselvam, three-time former Chief Minister, five-time AIADMK MLA, and a staunch loyalist of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, joined the DMK in the presence of party president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday (February 27, 2026).

“In today’s politics, Thalapathy is leading the party and the government with a political culture that embraces everyone, following the path shown by Anna and Kalaignar [former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi]. Realising this, I have joined the DMK with immense happiness,” he said.

Referring to Mr. Palaniswami as “interim general secretary,” Mr. Panneerselvam said, “From the day [Mr.] Palaniswami assumed responsibility as the general secretary in an authoritarian manner, he has been leading the AIADMK towards decline. Realising this, many AIADMK cadres have started joining the DMK. Mr. Panneerselvam started his political career from AIADMK, a party that split from and opposed the DMK. Here is a timeline of events that led to Mr. Panneerselvam joining DMK, which comes as a conclusion to his recent disagreements with the AIADMK party leadership:

(4) Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions escalate

Following months of bombings and border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Islamabad’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that Pakistan was in an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan on Saturday last week (February 28, 2026). The countries were at odds over the issue of Afghanistan providing shelter to the TTP, an Islamist organisation that fought for a demerger of tribal regions in Pakistan. However, Kabul has denied this and said that strikes within its territory violate its sovereignty.

The clashes are a reversal of Pakistan’s ties with the Taliban when it came to power in 2021. While Pakistan celebrated its success overthrowing the previous regime in Afghanistan, disagreements over border demarcations, alleged militant sheltering and the Taliban’s interactions with India soon frayed relations.

The violence of recent days is the worst since fighting in October last year killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely shut since.

(5) India qualifies for the T20 World Cup semi-finals

After defeating the West Indies in a deciding match in Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the Men in Blue qualified for the semi-finals with a 199-run score against West Indies’ 195 on Sunday last week (March 1, 2026), with five wickets left. Sanju Samson’s unbroken batting in the match, racking up a 97-run total anchored the team’s victory, along with a couple boundaries from Tilak Varma shoring up India’s run rate through the match. West Indies’ 195 runs was the highest that India had to chase in a World Cup match.

India could not afford losing the last two matches with Zimbabwe and West Indies after a bruising loss against South Africa, with a margin of over 70 runs and a severely diminished net run rate in the aftermath. With this win, India is set to compete against England on March 5 for a spot in the finals to be held on March 8.

Published – March 03, 2026 12:14 pm IST